Wheelbarrow



Nov. 2, 1954 R. B. ENSMINGER WHEELBARROW 2 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed June 27, 1950 I INVENTOR. 1: 5- RALPH 5. E/VSMl/VGER HIS AT TOR/VEYS Nov. 2, 1954 R. B. ENSMINGER WHEELBARROW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 27. 1950 1 INVTOR. RALPH B. ENSMl/VGER H/S A TTOR/VEYS United States Patent WHEELBARROW Ralph B. Ensminger, Berkeley, Calif.

Application June 27, 1950, Serial No. 170,585

6 Claims. (Cl. 298-3) My invention relates to wheelbarrows, and more particularly to one adapted for garden and nursery use.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved wheelbarrow;

(2) To provide a novel and improved wheelbarrow which is convertible from a dirt carrier to one for handling flats or the like;

(3) To provide a novel and improved wheelbarrow which will dump at a lower angle of lift than a conventional wheelbarrow of corresponding capacity;

(4) To provide a novel and improved wheelbarrow which will automatically dump in response to pressure applied to the headboard of such device;

(5) To provide a novel and improved wheelbarrow capable of being collapsed to a reduced volume for storage purposes. Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device of the present invention, set up as a dirt carrier;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the device in dumping condition;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device of Figure I converted to a carrier for flats or the like;

Figure 4 is a view of the device in condition for storage;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal view in section through the device of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an underside view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a transverse view in section taken in the plane 8-8 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a rear end view in elevation of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a view depicting a structural detail of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a view depicting details of a clip arrangement employed in the device of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, the same comprises a frame which involves a pair of tubular side members 1, 3 disposed at an acute angle to each other and connected at the apex of such angle by a first cross-member 5. At an intermediate portion of the tubular side members, they are connected by a second and third cross-member 7 and 9, respectively,

the second cross-member 7 preferably extending beyond the side members of the frame. Such extensions each provide an anchor point for one end each of a pair of V-shaped legs 11, each of which at its other end is affixed to the third cross-member 9 adjacent the inner side of a side member.

- Depending from the tubular side members at a location intermediate the first and second cross-members are a pair of axle bearings 13 for journaling the axle of a wheel 15 disposed between such side members of the frame. The side frame members, at the wheel end, are preferably bent downwardly somewhat, to permit of a more nearly horizontal disposition of that portion of the frame which supports the body 17 of the wheelbarrow in the rest position thereof.

. Such body involves a platform 19 normally disposed behind the wheel, and means for shifting such platform to a forward elevated position where it can clear the wheel for dumping purposes. Such means comprises a pair of angle iron rails 21, 23 which are fixedly supported on edge 'insubstantially parallel relationship between the second and third cross-members 7 and 9 respectively to which they are welded, such rails being of suflicient length to preferably extend some distance beyond the second cross member, such extended portion of each rail being preferably bent downward at a slight angle. At the forward end of each such rail, there is pivotally connected the short arm 25 of a bell-crank lever 27 having a long arm 29 at an angle thereto. These long arms provide a mounting for a headboard 31 which spans the same and constitutes a component of the body 17.

The platform itself, at the rear end thereof, is slidably interlocked with the rails, while at the front end thereof, the platform is connected to the bell-crank levers at the junctions of the short and long arms thereof. While separate and independent means may be utilized for this purpose, the same is accomplished in a very simple manner by affixing to the bottom of the platform, a pair of angle iron members 33, 35 adapted to rest on the aforementioned rails, with the side flange of each such member depending along the edge of the associated rail. Adjacent the rear of the platform, a tab 37 is struck from the side flange of one or both of such angle iron members and turned under the adjacent edge of the rail, allowing suflicient play for relative sliding of the angle iron member on the rail and at the same tmie permitting some freedom in the raising of the platform at its front end. The aforementioned angle iron members 33, 35 extend sufficiently beyond the front edge of the platform to permit of a pivotal connection 38 between the same and the bell-crank levers at the junction of the arms of such levers as previously indicated.

With such construction, it will become apparent that a force of sufiicient magnitude, when applied to the headboard, will drop the headboard and cause rotation of the bell-crank levers about their pivotal points of anchorage, which rotation will serve to draw the platform forward, at the same time causing a slight lift of the platform at its forward edge to clear the wheel.

Provision is made for the inclusion of side walls 39 as components of the body, where such side walls are desired, as when utilizing the device as a dirt carrier. Such walls are designed to rest edgewise upon the platform, and have their forward ends shaped to conform to the sloping position of the headboard. These walls are held in their proper position by aflixing to each of them, a metal strip 41 which extends below the lower edge of its associated side wall and terminates in a lateral flange 43. This end of the strip is adapted to snugly interlock with a tongue 42 affixed in parallel spaced relationship to one of the angle iron members.

Along the rear edge of the platform is hingedly secured a tailboard 44 which, in its upright position, is adapted to be secured to the rear edges of the side walls by interlocking hasp members. Such interlocking of the side walls and tailboard, together with the anchoring of the side walls to the tongues on the angle iron members, providesa rugged body assembly capable of performing heavy duty service.

Additional rigidity can be imparted to the body assembly by tongue type clips 46 mounted at the upper corners of the headboard and adapted to engage the overhanging turned-down ends of metal strips 48 affixed to the upper edges of the side walls, when the headboard is raised to its upper position.

With the side walls assembled in the aforementioned manner and the tailboard latched thereto, the wheelbarrow is set up as a dirt carrier, and when it is desired to dump a load, the rear end of the wheelbarrow need be tilted to .an elevated position only slightly above that for normal handling, whereupon the change in moment of force applied to the headboard causes the headboard to automatically drop into dumping position and at the same time pull the platform forward as previously described. Thus the load is dumped at a much lower angle than would be the case with a conventional type wheelbarrow where the corresponding headboard remains fixed in its relationship to the platform.

The ultimate position of the platform and headboard, which determines the dumping position is controlled by a suitable stop 45 applied to one or both rails in the path of movement of the turned-under tab. The location of the stop is such as to permit the headboard to drop to a position defining a slight angle below the horizontal, with the platform lying in approximately the same plane as the headboard.

' When it is desired to convert the wheelbarrow for use in the carrying of flats 47 or similar items, the tailboard is unlatched and permitted to drop to a position of rest on the side members of the frame, the side walls are removed, and the headboard is pressed down to a position where it occupies a substantially horizontal plane. in this position, or any other intermediate position for that matter, the entire assembly is locked by means of a wing bolt 49 threadedly mounted in the depending flange of one of the angle iron members and adapted to be threaded into pressure engagement with the associated rail. In this converted condition, the tailboard and headboard add materially to the carrying area of the platform, whereby the carrying capacity for flats will have been greatly enlarged over that which is offered by a conventional type wheelbarrow.

A headboard gate in the form of a wall having vertically attached metal strips adapted to fit within the tongue type clips 46, will serve as a backing against which small containers and other light loads may be stacked, when the wheelbarrow is in its converted condition.

The conversion of the device from one form to the other is very readily accomplished and with little effort, andprovides an assembly of great flexibility which is employable in a large field of application.

For storing the wheelbarrow in a minimum of space, the side walls are removed as previously described, and the headboard is pressed down to the approximate position it occupies for dumping, and is then locked in such position by means of wing bolt 49. In this condition, the device may be stood up on end as indicated in Figure 4, whereby the device is made to rest upon the front edge of the headboard and the first cross-member, in which position it is very stably supported.

It will be apparent from the above description of my invention, that the same is subject to modification and alteration without departing from the underlying principles involved, and while I have illustrated and described my preferred embodiment in considerable detail, I do not desire to be limited in my protection to such details, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wheelbarrow comprising a frame; a platform; means for shiftably mounting said platform on said frame comprising a pair of rails fixedly supported in substantially parallel relationship on said frame, a pair of hellcrank levers, said levers being pivotally connected each at the end of one of its arms to the extended end of oneof said rails, a headboard spanning the other arms of said levers and affixed thereto independent of said platform, means connecting said platform to said bellcrank levers and means holding the tail end of said platform in sliding engagement with said rails, whereby increasedmoment applied to said headboard will tend to rotate said bell-crank levers to cause said headboard to drop and the platform to shift forward and simultaneously elevate somewhat at its forward end; and means limiting the maximum range of movement of said headboard and platform.

2. A wheelbarrow comprising a frame; a platform; means for shiftably mounting said platform on said frame comprising a pair of rails fixedly supported in substantially parallel relationship on said frame, a pair of bellcrank levers, said levers being pivotally connected each at the end of one of its arms to an end of one of said rails, a headboard spanning the remaining arms of said levers and afiixed thereto, means connecting said platform to said bell-crank levers and means holding the tail end of said platform in sliding engagement with said rails, whereby increased moment applied to said headboard will tend to rotate said bell-crank levers to cause said headboard to drop and the platform to shift forward and simultaneously elevate somewhat at its for ward end; means limiting the maximum range of movement of said headboard and platform; and means for locking said headboard and platform at some intermediate point of their range of movement.

3. A wheelbarrow comprising a frame; a platform; meansfor shiftably mounting said platform on said frame comprising a pair of rails fixedly supported in substantially parallel relationship longitudinally of said frame,

a pair of bell-crank levers each having a short arm and a long arm at an angle thereto, said levers being pivotally connected each at the end of its short arm to an end of one of said rails, a headboard spanning said long arms and affixed thereto, means connecting said platform to said bell-crank levers at the junction of said short and long arms and means holding the tail end of said platform in sliding engagement with said rails, whereby increased moment applied to said headboard will tend to rotate said bell-crank levers to cause said headboard to drop and the platform to shift forward and simultaneously elevate somewhat at its forward end; means limiting the maximum extent of such forward shift of said platform; and means for locking said headboard and platform at some intermediate point of their range of movement.

4. A wheelbarrow comprising a frame; a platform; means for shiftably mounting said platform on said frame comprisin a pair of angle iron rails fixedly supported in substantially parallel relationship longitudinally of said frame, a pair of bell-crank levers each having a short arm and a long arm at an angle thereto, said levers being pivotally connected each at the end of its short arm to an end of one of said rails, a headboard spanning said long arms and aflixed thereto, means connecting said platform to said bell-crank levers at the junction of said short and long arms and means holding the tail end of said platform in sliding engagement with said rails, said means including a pair of slide rails affixed to the bottom of said platforrn in sliding contact with said first pair of rails and pivotally connected at their forward ends to said bell-crank levers whereby increased moment applied to said headboard will tend to rotate said bell-crank levers to cause said headboard to drop and the platform to shift forward and simultaneously elevate somewhat at its forward end; means limiting the maximum range of movement of said headboard and platform; and means for locking said headboard and platform at some intermediate point of their range of movement.

5. A wheelbarrow comprising a frame involving a pair of side members disposed at an acute angle to each other, a first cross-member joining said side members at the apex end of said angle and a second and third cross-member joining said side members at spaced points along an intermediate portion thereof, a pair of V-shaped legs each connected at one end to said second cross-member and at its other end 'to said third crossmember, a wheel disposed between said side members toward the apex of said angle; a platform; means for shiftably mounting said platform on said frame comprising a pair of angle iron rails fixedly supported in substantially parallel relationship on said frame, a' pair of bell-crank levers each having a short arm and a long arm at an angle thereto, said levers being pivotally connected each at the end of its short arm to an end of one of said rails, a headboard spanning said long arms and affixed thereto, means connecting saidplatform to said bell-crank levers at the junction of said short and long arms and means holding the tail end of said platformin sliding engagement with said rails, said means including a pair of slide rails aflixed to the bottom of said platform in sliding contactwith said first pair of rails and pivotally connected at their forward ends to said bell-crank levers whereby increased moment applied to said headboard will tend to rotate said bellcrank levers to cause said headboardto drop and the platform to shift forward and simultaneously elevate somewhat at its forward end;means limiting the maximum range of movement of said headboard and platform; means for locking said headboard and platform at some intermediate point of their range of movement; a tailboard hingedly secured to the rear edge of said plat form; a pair of side Walls; means removably securing said side walls along the side edges of said platform; and means for latching said tailboard in upright position to said side walls.

6. A wheelbarrow comprising a frame involving a pair of tubular side members disposed at an acuate angle to eachother, a first cross-member joining said side members at the apex end of said angle and a second and third crossmember joining said side members at spaced points along an intermediate portion thereof with the ends of said second cross-member extending beyond said side members, apair of V-shaped legs each connected at one end to an extended end of said second crossmember and at its other end to said third cross-member adjacent the inner-side of a side member, and a pair of axle bearings depending from said side members intermediate said first and second cross-members; a wheel disposed between said side members and having an axle journalled in said bearings; a platform; means for shiftably mounting said platform on said frame comprising a pair of angle iron rails fixedly supported in substantially parallel relationship between said third and second cross-members and extending therebeyond, a pair of bellcrank levers each having a short arm and a long arm at an angle thereto, said levers being pivotally connected each at the end of its short arm to the extended end of one of said rails, a headboard spanning said long arms and aflixed thereto, means connecting said platform to said bell-crank levers at the junction of said short and long arms and means holding the tail end of said platform in sliding engagement with said rails, said means including a pair of slide rails aflixed to the bottom of said platform in sliding contact with said first pair of rails and pivotally connected at their forward ends to said bell-crank levers whereby increased moment applied to said headboard will tend to rotate said bell-crank Iev'ers to cause said headboard to drop and the platform to shift forward and simultaneously elevate somewhat at its forward end; means limiting the maximum range of movement of said headboard and platform; means for locking said headboard and platform at some intermediate point of their range of movement; a tailboard hingedly secured to the rear edge of said platform; a pair of side walls; means removably securing said side walls along the side edges of said platform; and means for latching said tailboard in upright position to said side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,243,432 Lemke Oct. 16, 1917 1,573,121 Potter Feb. 16, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 401,793 France Aug. 10, 1909 2,207 Great Britain 1903 

